Bulgaria's prime minister says Sofia is likely to quit a deal with Russian state-controlled nuclear firm Atomstroyexport to build a nuclear power plant at Belene on the Danube River.

Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said he had sent ministers to Moscow last month to tell Russian officials that Bulgaria no longer wants the plant.

He said Bulgaria will pay for the one nuclear reactor that has already been built for the project.

Bulgaria's government has been trying to attract a Western European investor for the project and secure a better price for the plant, which has been estimated at a cost of more than 8 billion euros ($10.4 billion).

The prime minister's announcement came weeks after the United States urged Bulgaria to end to its energy dependence on Russia.